Staff Level of technical expertise needed to assist with extraction and place grafts

Medium to High

High

Graft growth

95%+ expected

Unknown but early studies have shown the growth to be comparable. Grafts acquired with this technique can require more delicate handling (hence the high level of staff technical expertise needed)

Best for hair length

Short but not shaved (i.e. greater than #3 clipper setting) or long

Buzzed short (i.e. less than #3 clipper setting)

Depth of incision

1-4mm

1-4mm (note that this is just as invasive/deep as a traditional method incision)

Best for hair type

Any

Straight and darker are better but light or curly hair is not an absolute contraindication (meaning you can still do it but often the transection rate will be higher)

Best for skin type in donor area

20% elasticity or higher

Any elasticity

Transection rate

0-2%

5-8%

Anticipated density

20-50 F/U per square centimeter typically

20-50 F/U per square centimeter typically

Recovery time at donor area

7-10 days until stitches removed

3 days until healed, 10 days until hair re-grows enough to camouflage area

Recovery time at Recipient area

3 days – 7 days

3 days – 7 days

Time until you can resume strenuous workouts

Most MDs recommend waiting until after suture removal

About a week

Coffee/Alcohol pre-operatively?

No

No

As a patient considering hair restoration surgery, it is difficult to sort out which of the current techniques; traditional “strip” surgery (often erroneously referred to as FUT) or Follicular Unit Extraction (often abbreviated FUE). Right now on the internet, much of the hype centers around FUE which is the latest technique to be adopted by hair transplant surgeons. New and exciting devices exist to perform this procedure and several of these device companies market directly to patients, further confusing the task of deciding which might be right for you!

The absolute best way to decide which method might be best would be to see your hair transplant surgeon and lay out your goals for your hair. Along with developing a long term plan for your hair, a well-trained and experienced hair surgeon can point out the benefits and risks of each technique and how it might fit into your goals. To that end, here is a side-by-side comparison of both techniques to help the layperson begin to tease out which method might be the best for them. Calculations and statistics cited are based on my own clinical data and experience from 2000+ cases. Hopefully, it will help clarify some of the confusing claims surrounding both of these techniques.

Walnut Creek

San Francisco

San Jose

2400 Samaritan Drive, Ste. 103
San Jose, CA 95124-4104

408-998-4763

Napa Valley

3443 Villa Ln #10
Napa, CA 94558-6417

925-939-4763

Schedule An Appointment Today!

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Wasserbauer to determine the best procedure for you, submit the form below or call our office at 925-939-4763. Patient Financing options are available for qualified candidates.